Knitting mechanism



June 30, 1936. s. R. SHELMIRE KNITTING MECHANISM Original Filed July 19, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 472-0 A ya W/FA ESSJ I W J 1936- s. R. SHELMIRE KNITTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 19, 1930 Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,045,617 KNITTING MECHANISM Stanley R. Shelmire, Wilmington, Del., assignor.

to Standard-Trump Bros. Machine Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application'July 19, 1930,. Serial No..469,056

@Renewed August 2, 1933 I 33 Claims. ('01. cs- 135) the main yarn to produce striped or figured effects, it is necessary to render the wrap fingers inoperativev during the formation of the heel and toe of hosiery, for example, or at such other times in the operation of the machine when it may be desired to prevent the production of stripes or figures.

It is the broad object of the present invention, to provide improved means for rendering inoperative those elements which serve to actuate the wrap fingers, this mechanism being specifically designed to effect the productio n of such inoperative condition without disturbing the relationship between the operating cams and an actuating trick wheel or the like.

It is a further object to provide a controlling mechanism for the wrap fingers which is of such nature that the proper beginning of a pattern is achieved on' each new piece of work as, for example, on each of a series of pieces of hosiery.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means whereby a drum carrying wrap fingers is maintained in proper position relative to the wrap finger controlling mechanism so that proper wrapping efiects are produced.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for automatically positioning the wrapfingers as they are moved from an inoperative position clearing the knitting mechanism to positions wherein they are adapted to cooperate with the needles. This object'is attained by the provision of a special design of latch ring.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a mounting for a wrap finger returning cam which insures movement of the cam to a position permitting opening of the latch ring and in conjunction therewith of means for insuring return of the wrap fingers within the circle of needles during such times as the normal return cam is inoperative.

Further objects of the invention relating particularly to details of construction will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which show so much of a knitting machine as is necessary for an understanding of the invention and in which:

. Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the 3 Fig. 2' ls'a plan viewishowin latch ringandwrap: n'ger controlling mechaparts ofthe machineadj acent the top of the needle cylinder;

particularly the Fig. 3 is al'perspectiv view of the improved latch ring;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the controlling means for the wrap finger ca' controlling disc; and I J Fig. 5 isa developed viewof certain controlling The features of the invention areLilIuStrated as embodied in a knittingmachine comprising a stationary needle cylinder and in which the supply of knitting yarnislrotated forthe presentation of the yarn to the'needles. 'While' a machine of this type is desirable'when it is desired to control the formation of a pattern by, manipulation of a large number of wrap fingerasmce the supplies of yarn for the fingers may be, stationary, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the various features of the invention may be equallywell applied to rotary'needle machines. The machinewhich is shown is of the type illustrated in the applications-of Harold E. Houseman, S81.NOS. 422,818 and 427:,709,'filed,'respectively, January 23, 1930 and February 12, 1930, the mechanism of either of these applications being used to impart shogging movements to the wrap fingers. 3 I

Referring specifically to the drawings, there is illustrated at 2 a stationary'needle cylinder of usual construction provided with vertical slots in which needles 4 are-reciprocated in the conventional knitting wave by suitable rotatingcams, other rotating cams serving to operate the cooperating sinkers slidably mounted in the stationary sinker dial 6. A rotating latch ring ll] of novel construction which will be later described, serves to guide the main yarn or yarns to the needles, being carried as are the other rotating parts, by the rotatably and oscillatably mounted cam ring 8, driven in the usual manner to rotate during the formation of the leg and foot of hosiery and to oscillate during the formation of the heel and toe.

Above the needle cylinder is the wrap finger drum l2- carried by the spindle 14 which is both slidably mounted in the frame, so'that the fingers l6 may be lifted out of cooperation with the needles, and also rotatably mounted therein so that the fingers may be shogged to cooperate with various needles with the resultant production of elaborate patterns. The arrangement threaded fingers I8 as there are needles.

whereby lifting and shogging of the cylinder is efiected may be of the types illustrated in the Houseman applications above mentioned. The fingers I6, provided with suitable thread eyes at their lower ends, are oscillatably mounted in the usual fashion in slots in drum. I2, being held in position by a retaining spring band I8. To procure very elaborate designs there may be as many Generally, however, there will be a smaller number in operation, certain fingers being either absent or unthreaded.

Each of the wrap fingers I6 is provided with a series of butts I1 selected ones of which may be broken out according to the usual practice for the production of designs. Adapted to cooperate with the butts I! are cams 20 in the form of a series of levers, corresponding in number to the number of butts, pivoted on a pin 22 carried by a lever 24 which is pivoted at 26 to a support carried by the rotating cam ring 8. Each of the cams 20 is provided with a face 28 adapted to engage the butts to move the lower ends of the fingers outwardly between the needles, these lower endsbeing twisted out of radial planes so as to carry the wrap yarns about the needles, during the oscillatory movements of the fingers, in a clockwise direction as viewed from above.

Each of the cam levers is urged by an individual spring 30 to bring a lug 32 carriedthereby and having a sloping cam surface into engagement with a trick 34 carried by the trick wheel 35. As is usual in the production of patterns with trick wheels, certain butts on the tricks are missing. If there is no trick butt opposite the lug-32 of a cam lever 20, the cam lever will be moved by the spring until its extension 31 engages the stop pin 38 carried by the lever 24. This stop pin 38 may, of course, be omitted and the lug permitted to drop against the trick wheel; however in such case undue wear on the wheel occurs and it is preferable to stop the lugs short of engagement with the wheel by the means just described. The lever 24 is provided with an adjustable follower screw 38 arranged to engage either a flat 40 or a slope 42 formed on the end of a lever 44 carried by a shaft 46 mounted in the support carried by the rotating ring 8 and carrying at its lower end an arm 48 having an engaging face 49 for a purpose later described. The arm 48 also carries a pin 50 extending downwardly within a slot 52 in a lever 54 pivoted at 5B and having an engaging corner 55.

The trick wheel 35 is pivoted on an upright stud 51 carried by a bracket secured to cam ring 8 and is provided with ratchet teeth 58 cooperating with a pivoted pawl 60 spring pressed into engagement with the teeth and carried by an oscillatable bracket also pivoted on stud 51 and having a slot within which engages a pin 63 carried by the arm 84 secured to the shaft 66 which also carries the follower 68 having the shape illustrated, the follower 58 being at a level just above that of the lever 48. A spring 10 reacting between the follower 68 and bracket 62 normally moves the pawl to a retracted position.

Adapted to cooperate with the levers 48 and 54 and with follower 68- is a disc 12 carried by a vertically movable rod 14 slidable in a sleeve carried by a stationary part of the machine frame. A spring 18 engaging a collar 18 on the rod 14 presses an adjustable follower screw carried by the rod against a lever 82 pivoted on a stud 84 to the frame. Also pivoted on stud 84 is a lever 88 which forms a part of a pattern chain controlling mechanism of the type illustrated and claimed in the application of Harold E. Houseman, Ser. No. 287,406, filed June 22, 1928, a division of an application which matured into Patent No. 1,769,580, dated July 1, 1930, in which this mechanism is fully described. In said patent, the mechanism insures the proper positioning of a pattern chain which controls yarn carriers for striping. In the present device two chains are used, not for controlling yarn carriers for striping, but for effecting shogging movements of the wrap fingers in the manner illustrated in the Houseman applications Ser. Nos. 422,818 and 427,709, and for controlling movements of the trick wheel 35. Accordingly the effect of the chain controlling mechanism is to insure proper action of the chains at the changes from oscillation to rotation and vice versa and at the beginning of a new piece. The pattern chains in the present machine as in that shown in the patent are readily replaceable and the new chains are similarly automatically advanced and stopped in proper position.

Besides having the above mentioned controlling functions, the lever 86 forms the medium of control of the disc I2. To this end, its cam following extremity 88 is adapted to ride over suitable cams, shown developed in Fig. 5, carried by the usual cam disc 89 which is stepped around at intervals under the' control of the main chain of the machine. A stop 94 limits' movement of the lever 86 when it is not engaged by any of the cams. Movements of the disc 12 upon rocking of arm occur under the action of spring I6 upon movement of lever 82 against the strong tension of spring I00 by engagement of adjustable screw 96 carried by lever with lug 88 on lever 82. Except when the lever 82 is positively rocked by the action of the cams or by engagement of a lug I04 on a pattern chain with its follower end I02, the spring I00, which is stronger than spring 16, holds the disc 12 in its uppermost inoperative position shown in Fig. 4. When a lug I04 passes beneath the end' I02, the discdrops into position to engage member 58. The actionsefiected by the cams 90, 9|, 82, 93 and 85 will be hereafter described.

'I'he latch ring I0 in the machine here described is of novel form. During the operation of the machine, the return of the wrap fingers, which have been moved outwardly between the needles by earns 28, is effected at the proper time by return cam 8 which is fixed to arm 24. By reason of its fixture to the arm 24 it is moved to an inoperative position simultaneously with the cam levers 20, the purpose being to secure clearance for opening of the latch ring which it normally overhangs. But by reason of this simple mounting upon lever 24, it is not only rendered inoperative when clearance is desired but also any other time when the levers 20 are rendered inoperative. Accordingly it is necessary to insure proper return of the fingers to normal position inside the needle circle at such times as the cam II8 falls to act. It is also possible that when the drum I2 is raised, one or more of the wrap fingers may be rocked. Means associated with the latch ring insures proper positioning of the wrap fingers in both of the above cases.

To attain the above objects, the cam ring is beveled as shown at IIO to engage the fingers as they are lowered and cam them inwardly. To provide clearance for the fingers during the wrapping operation the ring is cut out at II2 adjacent the slot II4 through which the yarn or yarns are fed to the needles. Although the bevel I I insures positioning of the fingers so that they may be properly acted upon by cams 28 in the subsequent knitting operations, this does not move the fingers to their extreme inner positions necessary to effect proper wrapping. Accordingly the cam element H6 is provided on the latch ring to effect full inward movement during operation, this cam also serving to fully return those fingers which may not have been engaged by return cam H8 by reason of its periodic inoperativeness. The sides of the cut-out II2 act as cams serving to move inwardly those fingers which may project through the circle of needles.

The mounting of the wrap fingers so that they may be both shogged and moved vertically as a unit to clear the top of the latch ring, necessitates a remote support as is shown in Houseman applications422,818 and 427,709. As a result there occurs some free movement of the drum I2 and the fingers carried thereby during operation, which movement, although slight, is likely to result in insufiicient oscillation of wrap fingers by engagement of cams 28 with particularly those butts adjacent the pivots of the fingers which, even at most; have very slight movements. To insure proper cooperation, a plate I is secured at one side to pin 51, which forms the pivot for trick wheel 35, and at the opposite .side to a bracket I2I carried by the revolving cam ring 8. This plate is provided with 'a circular opening, having an upper beveled edge I22, adapted to form a journal for the ring I24 carried by the drum I2. As the drum is lowered to operative position, it is guided into the opening by the beveled edge I22 and is thereafter maintained in accurately fixed position relative to the cam levers 20.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described in detail. In the normal operation of the machine during, say, the formation of the leg portion of a stocking, the wrap fingers operate in the. usual manner, being oscillated inwardly and outwardly through the circle of needles and by reason of their twisted lower ends passing about the needles during such oscillation so as to wrap yarns about the individual needles. During this operation the shogging mechanism may serve to move the wrap fingers to cooperate with different needles with the resultant production of zigzag patterns.

During this normal operation the follower 88 will rest either on the end surface of the cam disc 89 or in a position to slightly clear such disc as may be determined by the adjustable stop 94. At this time the adjustable screw 96 clears the lug 98 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The chain I03 is stepped around by the usual pawl and ratchet mechanism, bringing beneath the end I02 of lever 82 links of the pattern chain which may or may not carry lugs I04. If the link at any time beneath end I02 does not carry a lug, the lever presses under the action of spring I00 against the stop 80 so as to hold the disc I2 at the level indicated in Fig. 4, that is, above the arm 68. At this time the disc is inoperative and accordingly no ratcheting of the trick wheel occurs. On the other hand, if a lug I04 moves under the end of the lever, the lever is rocked so that disc 12 is free to drop under the action of spring 16 into the path of the arm 68. Upon the subsequent rotation of the cam'ring, the pawl 60 is oscillated so as to impart a step motion to the trick wheel and cause various lugs thereon to engage the cam levers 20, rocking some outwardly and permitting others to move inwardly so as to efiect'a selective rocking of the wrap fingers by engagement with the butts I'I thereon, some of which may be removed. It will be understood that the arrangement of the butts on the wrap fingers together with the arrangement of lugs on the trick wheel will result in the formation of various patterns at the will of a designer. Proper stepping of the trick wheel under the action of the pattern chain I03 permits the formation of very intricate patterns. During this normal operation the return cam I I8 is located in proper position to cooperate with the portions of the fingers below their pivotal mountings so as to return them within the circle of needles and thus complete the wrapping operations.

When the heel of the hosiery is about to be formed the usual mechanisms serve to change the rotary movements of the needle and sinker cams into oscillatory movement while the needles are picked out of operation and restored to operation in the usual fashion to provide the proper narrowing. Just prior tothe change from rotation to oscillation, the disc 89 is moved so that the end 88 of the lever 86 rides upon the cam 90, which is of a height which may be designated as a second height. When this occurs the lever 86. is rocked to such position that the screw 96 engages lug 98, rocking the lever 82 to drop the disc I2 into the path of the engaging face 49 of lever 48. As the lever engagesthe disc I2, the lever is rocked so that the adjustable screw 38 carried by lever 24 rides from the flat upon sloping surface 42 on the end of the lever 44. The lever 24 now rocks about the pivot 26 under the action of springs 30 upon the cam levers 20. The ends 28 of the cam levers are thus brought into inoperative position and at the same time return cam H8 is moved to its inoperative position. It will be noted that in this action the lugs 32 are directly positioned above the pivot 26 so that there is no disturbance of the engagement of these lugs with the lugs on the trick wheels. The pin 36 still serves to maintain the lugs 32 from engaging the portions of the trick wheel from which the lugs have been removed.

The rocking of lever 86 at the same time effects the removal from the ratchet secured to the chain carrying drum of its operating pawl, by lifting said pawl in the manner described in Houseman Patent No. 1,769,580. Accordingly the wrap fingers are rendered inoperative and simultaneously the chain I03 is stopped. By reason of the position of the disc I2 no step movements are imparted to the trick wheel and accordingly the trick wheel and chain cannot get out of step.

As soon as the heel is completed, and simultaneously with the resumption of rotation, cam 9I moves beneath the end 88 of the lever. This action effects further rocking movement of the lever 82 and brings the disc I2 into the path of the engaging corner of the lever 54. The lever 54 is thereby rocked and moves, through the pin and slot connection, the lever 48 which in turn causes the lever 44 to rock, again bringing the follower 38 upon the fiat portion 40. By this operation the lever 24 is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, again bringing the cam levers 28 and the return cam H8 into operative position. The disc 88 immediately moves, permitting the end 88 of lever 86 to again move to its uppermost position freeing the lever 82 for operation by the lugs on the pattern chain for the proper imparting of a step by step movement to the trick wheel. Accordingly the wrap pattern is continued from the point where it was interrupted in a continuous fashion since no movement of either the trick wheel or shogging mechanism (controlled by another chain also operated by the pawl and ratchet mechanism) occurred during the formation of the heel. It will be noted that the cam 88 has what may be termed a third height.

Upon completion of the foot, the cam 82 engages the end 88 of the lever 86. It will be noted that cam 92 is of the same height as cam 88 and accordingly the disc 12 drops into the path of the face 48 of the lever 48, efiecting the oscillation of lever 24 to render the cams 28 and H8 inoperative. It is to be noted at this point that the lever 44 will occupy either of the positions into which it is thrown until positively thrown to its other position; that is, the engagement of the adjustable screw 38 with either the fiat 40 or the sloping surface 42 tends to hold this lever in the position which it assumes.

Immediately after its movement tobring cam 82 into engagement with the end of lever 86, the disc 88 has imparted thereto another step movement so that the end of the lever 86 falls upon the camsurface 83 which is of a first height less than that of cam 82. Movement of the lever 86 to this position withdraws the adjustable screw 86 from the lug 88 and although it does not bring the screw 86 to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the lever 82 is free to assume its normal position illustrated in that figure, in which the disc 12 is moved to its upper inoperative position unless the lever 82 is acted upon by a lug of the pattern chain. At the same time the lever 85 is raised to such extent as will insure the stepping of the chain to a definite position determined by the riding of a pin carried thereby with a cam on a downward extension carried by the lever, as described in the Houseman patent above referred to. It will be noted that the lever 86 is not now rocked to such an extent as to lift the pawl from operative position relative to the ratchet and accordingly step by step movements are imparted to the chain I83.

In view of this, during oscillation of the ring 8 during the formation of the toe, the pattern chains controlling both the ratcheting of the trick wheel and the shogging of the wrap fingers continue to move until they are stopped in the position determined by the engagement of the pin carried by one of them with the cam surface referred to above. The shape of the lever 68 causes it to engage the disc 12 upon any reciprocation when a lug I84 passes beneath the end I02 of the lever 82. It accordingly follows that the shogging mechanism, the pattern chain and the trick wheel are stepped about in their cycles of operation in properly timed relationship to each other even though the wrap fingers are inoperative by reason of the inoperative position of the cams 28. When the chains finally stop, all of the parts are thereafter in properly related position for the beginning of the pattern in a new stocking.

After the formation of the toe a further movement is imparted to the disc 88, bringing cam 85 into engagement with the end of lever 86. The lever 86 is thereby rocked to such an extent as to cause a pawl carried thereby to impart a single step to the drums carrying the pattern chains and thereby again render operative the moving mechanism therefor. At the same time as this extreme movement is imparted to lever 86, the disc 12 drops .to its lowermost position and is engaged by the corner 55 of the lever 54 whereby the earns 28 and return cam -Il8 are restored to operative position. The parts are thereby restored to condition for the formation of the leg portion of another stocking.

It will be obvious from the above that the return-cam H8 might possibly be rendered inopl3 erative at a time when one or more of the wrap fingers might project outwardly of the circle of needles. If this should occur, subsequent rotation or oscillation will effect the return of these wrap fingers due to their engagement with the cam H5, both ends of which are bevelled to properly cooperate with the portions of the wrap fingers below their pivots.

While the invention has been described above in a form adapting it to use in connection with a machine in which the circle of needles is stationary, it will be obvious that the invention may be readily applied to a machine in which the needles rotate and cooperate with stationary cams.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a car- 3 rier therefor, said carrier being movable in the direction of the axis of the needle circle whereby the wrap finger may be moved towards or from its operative position wherein it is adapted to wrap a yarn about a needle, and means for moving the yarn carrying end of the finger inwardly of the needle circle during and by its movement towards operative position.

2. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to 45 form stitches, a latch ring located above the needles, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, said carrier being movable in the direction of the axis of the needle circle whereby the wrap finger may be moved towards or from its operative position wherein it is adapted to wrap a yarn about a needle, and means for moving the yarn carrying end of the finger inwardly of the needle circle upon its movement towards operative position, said means including a cam surface on the latch ring.

3. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, a'latch ring located above the needles, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, said carrier being movable in the direction of the axis of the needle circle whereby the wrap finger may be moved towards or from its operative position wherein it is adapted to wrap a yarn about a needle, and means for moving the yarn carrying end of the finger inwardly of the needle circle upon its movement towards operative position, said means including an annular cam surface on the latch ring.

4. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, a latch ring located above the needles, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, said carrier being movable in the direction of the axis of the needle circle whereby the wrap needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, a latch ring located above the needles, the latch ring and wrap finger being relatively movable during normal operation of the machine, a wrap finger return cam movable either to an operative position wherein it acts to move the yarn carrying end of the finger inwardly of the needle circle, or to an inoperative position, and a cam associated with the latch ring to move the yarn carrying end of the finger inwardly when the return camis in inoperative position. 6. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots; devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever, a

plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel; and means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel.

7. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots; devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever pivoted about an axis parallel with the axis of the trick wheel, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs to! holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel, such engagement being approximately in line with the axis of the carrying lever; and means acting on the carrying leverto cause thecam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel.

8. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots; devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying bu'tts, a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel; and means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers to assumeeither a position in which they may cooperate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted in two positions to move the oscillatable cam in opposite directions.

9. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and .devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side oftheir pivots; devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever pivoted about an axis parallel with the axis of the trick wheel, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs-for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel, such engagement being approximately in line with the axis of the carrying lever; and means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel, said last named means including an oscillatable cam arranged to operate on the carrying lever, a camming element adapted to selectively assume a plurality of positions under the action of controlling mechanism, and two followers arranged to be acted upon-by the camming element when in two positions to move the oscillatable cam in opposite directions. p

10. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the' other side of their pivots; devices movable relatively to the fingers for efiecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently .rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever pivoted about an axis parallel with the axis of the trick wheel, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts oi the wrap fingers, springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel, such engagement being approx-. imately in line with the axis of the carrying lever; means acting on the carrying. lever to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts o! wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheelor a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel, said last named means including an oscillatable cam arranged to operate on the carrying lever, a camming element adapted to selective- 1y assume a plurality of positions under the action of controlling mechanism, and two follow- -ers arranged to be acted upon by the camming element when in two positions to move the oscillatable cam in opposite directions; and another follower arranged to be acted upon by the camming element when in still another position to eflect intermittent rotation of the trick wheel.

11. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices coperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, and devices movable relatively to the fingers toreifecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, and means for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel; the carrying lever being movable to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts otwrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a' position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel.

12. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for efiecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, and means for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel; the carrying lever being movable to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick.

wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel, the points of engagement of the cam levers with the butts on the trick wheel being substantially aligned with the axis about which the carrying lever moves whereby movement of the carrying lever does not disturb such engagement.

13. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devlcesincluding a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, means for selectively moving the cam levers to effect selective actuation of the wrap fingers, the carrying lever being movable to locate the cam levers in either operative or inoperative positions, and a wrap finger return cam carried by the carrying lever and movable to operative or inoperative position with the cam levers.

14. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarncarrying operation, said devices including a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, means for selectively moving the cam levers to effect selective actuation of the wrap fingers, the carrying lever being movable to locate the cam levers in either operative or inoperative positions, a wrap finger return cam carried by the carrying lever and movable to operative or inoperative position with the cam levers, and auxiliary means for returning the fingers when the return cam is inoperative.

15. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers *being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, means for selectively moving the cam levers to effect selective actuation of the wrap'fingers, the carrying lever being movable to locate the cam levers in either operative or inoperative positions, a wrap finger return cam carried by the carrying lever and movable to operative or inoperative position with the cam levers, and an auxiliary cam carried by the latch ring for returning the fingers when the return cam is inoperative.

16. A knitting mechanism incliiding a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a plurality of cam levers, a trick wheel operating said cam levers, a ratchet mechanism including a follower for intermittently moving the trick wheel, means for moving the cam levers as a unit either to operative or inoperative positions and including a plurality of followers, and a camming element arranged'to occupy a plurality of positions in which it selectively engages the followers or is inactive.

17. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles, and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a plurality of cam levers, a trick wheel operating said cam levers, a ratchet mechanism including a follower for intermittently moving the trick wheel, means for moving the cam levers as a unit either to operative or inoperative positions and including a plurality of followers, a camming element arranged to occupy a plurality of positions in which it selectively engages the followers or is inactive, and pattern mechanism controlling the positions of the camming element.

18. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a plurality of cam levers, a trick wheel operating said cam levers, and a ratchet mechanism including a follower member for intermittently moving the trick wheel, a camming element arranged to occupy a plurality of positions including one in which it engages the follower member to operate the ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of means for controlling the positions of the camming element, one of the last means having a setup controlling the formation of designs and another acting independently of the particular setup to control the camming element at predetermined times.

19. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots. devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a plurality of cam levers, a trick wheel operating said cam levers, and a ratchet mechanism including a follower member for intermittently moving the trick wheel, a camming element arranged to occupy a plurality of positions including one in which it engages the follower member to operate the ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of positions in which it is inactive to operate the ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of means for controlling movements of the element to its respective inactive positions, one of the last means having a setup controlling the formation of designs and another acting independently of the particular setup to control the camming element at predetermined times.

20. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about; needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a plurality of pivoted cam levers adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, means for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel, and means for moving the cam levers as a unit out of operative relationship with the butts of the wrap fingers while maintaining uninterrupted their contact with butts on the trick wheel.

21. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier, the wrap fingers being pivotally mounted on the carrier whereby their ends on one side of their pivots may carry yarns about needles, the fingers being provided with butts at the other side of their pivots, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a carrier lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers,

and means for selectively moving the cam levers I to effect selective actuation of the wrap fingers,

the carrying lever being movable to locate the cam levers in either operative or inoperative positions.

22. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to in form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts, and devices movable relatively to the fingers to effect wrapping thereby, said devices including a plurality of cam levers adapted to act on the butts positions, said last means including a carrier levelsupporting the cam levers and actuating means for said carrier lever.

23. A knitting mechanism including a. circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts, and devices movable relatively to the fingers to effect wrapping thereby, said devices including a plurality of cam levers adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, means for selectively moving the cam levers to effect selective actuation of the wrap fingers, and means for locating the cam levers as a group in either operative or inoperative positions, said levers and means for selectively moving them remaining in operative relationship.

24. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts; devices movable'relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever, a plurality of camJevers pivoted on the carrying lover and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers,

springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel; and means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may coopcrate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel.

25. A knitting machine including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts; devices movable relatively to the fingers tor e1- iecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever pivoted about an axis parallel with the axis of the trick wheel, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel, such engagement being approximately in line with the axis or the carrying lever; and means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers.to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts oi wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as'not to cooperate with the-butts of fingers irrespective of operationof the trick wheel.

26. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts; devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel; and means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with.the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not .to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel, said last named means including an oscillatable cam arranged to operate on the carrying lever, a camming element adapted to selectively assume a plurality of positions under the action of controlling mechanism, and

27. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating, therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts; devices movable relatively to the fingers for efiecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever pivoted about an axis parallel with the axis of the trick wheel, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel, such engagement being approximately in line with the axis of the carrying lever; and means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts oi wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel, said last named means including an oscillatable cam arranged to operate on the carrying lever, a camming element adapted to selectively assume a plurality of positions under the action of controlling mechanism, and two followers arranged to te acted upon by the camming element when in two positions to move the oscillatable cam in opposite directions. 7

28. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts; devices movable relatively to the fingers for eflecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever pivoted about an axis parallel with the-axis oi the trick wheel, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, springs for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel, such engagement being approximately in line with the axis of the carrying lever; means acting on the carrying lever to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts 0t wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation 01 the trick wheel, said last named means including an oscillatable cam arranged to operate on the carrying lever, a camming element adapted to selectively assume a plurality of positions under the action of controlling mechanism, and two followers arranged to be acted upon by the camming element when in two positions to move the oscillatable cam in opposite directions; and another follower arranged to be acted upon by the camming element when in still another position to 'efiect intermittent rotation of the trick wheel.

29. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier therefor, said fingers being provided with butts, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, and means for holding the cam levers in engage ment with butts on the trick wheel; the carrying leverbeing movable to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel.

30. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier therefor, said fingers being provided with butts, and devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, a carrying lever, a plurality of cam levers pivoted on the carrying lever and adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers, and means for holding the cam levers in engagement with butts on the trick wheel; the carrying lever being movable to cause the cam levers to assume either a position in which they may cooperate with the butts of wrap fingers when acted upon by the. butts on the trick wheel or a position in which they are retracted so as not to cooperate with the butts of fingers irrespective of operation of the trick wheel, the points of engagement of the cam levers with the butts on the trick wheel being substantially aligned with. the axis about which the carrying lever moves whereby movement of the carrying lever does not disturb such engagement.

31. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier therefor, said fingers being provided with butts, devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a plurality of cam levers, a trick wheel operating said cam levers, a ratchet mechanism including a follower for intermittently moving the trick wheel, means for moving the cam levers as a unit either to operative or inoperative positions and including a plurality of followers, and a camming element arranged to occupy a plurality of positions in which it selectively engages the followers or is inactive.

32. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, wrap fingers, a carrier therefor, said fingers being provided with butts, devices movable relatively to the fingers for effecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including a plurality of cam levers, a trick wheel operating said cam levers, a ratchet mechanism including needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches; wrap fingers; a carrier for the wrap fingers, said fingers being provided with butts; devices movable relatively to the fingers for efiecting the yarn carrying operation, said devices including an intermittently rotatable trick wheel carrying butts, and a plurality of cam levers adapted to act on the butts of the wrap fingers and provided with laterally extending lugs engageable with butts on the trick wheel and having circumferential extents less than the angular spacing of the butts on the trick wheel; and means for locating the cam levers as a group in either operative or inoperative positions without disturbing engagement of their lugs with butts on the trick wheel. 

